Case Study
Automated Laser Resolves Persistent Bird Strike Risk at Regional Airport
The Problem
A regional airport conducting soil remediation work faced a serious and escalating bird management problem, one created directly by the remediation process itself. As crews excavated contaminated soils across the active airport property, the digging created a series of large temporary bodies of standing water within the airport's footprint. To waterfowl, these large ponds were indistinguishable from any other attractive habitat: open water, minimal disturbance, and easy access to grassy open ground. Canada geese and ducks moved in quickly, and with the airport still operational on nearby runways, the growing waterfowl presence created a direct and ongoing bird strike hazard.
The remediation project added a layer of complexity that made conventional bird management especially difficult: the hazard was constantly moving. As one excavated area was filled in and remediated, crews would break ground in a new location, creating a new pond, attracting a new wave of birds. The airport had invested upward of $15,000 in labor and materials attempting to address the problem independently, deploying multiple deterrent strategies with no lasting success.
Failed approaches included:
- Fox decoys: Predator decoys can offer short-term deterrence, but Canada geese are highly intelligent and quick to habituate. Stationary decoys in a fixed location are typically ignored within days.
- Solar-powered ultrasonic bird repeller: Ultrasonic devices are largely ineffective against waterfowl in open outdoor environments. Sound dissipates quickly across open ground and water, and geese, unlike some other species, show little behavioral response to ultrasonic frequencies. The device addressed none of the site's underlying habitat attractiveness.
- Physical protective fencing: Fencing can be a useful tool in the right context, but on a large, active construction site near open water, it cannot realistically exclude a flying species from the area. Geese simply landed beyond the fencing perimeter and moved freely through the site.
- Reflective tape: Like decoys, reflective tape may produce a brief startle response but offers no sustained deterrence. Birds rapidly learn that flashing tape poses no actual danger.
Wild Goose Chase's Solution
When Wild Goose Chase was engaged, our team conducted a thorough on-site evaluation: assessing the bird pressure, species activity, the shifting nature of the water sources, and the unique logistical challenge of managing a moving target across an active airport property. Rather than defaulting to conventional deterrents that had already proven ineffective, Wild Goose Chase recommended an automated laser bird deterrent system: a science-backed solution proven to disrupt bird habituation patterns without harm.
One key complexity of this project was that the laser installation could not be permanent. Because construction was ongoing and the site layout was actively changing, the laser required a mobile platform that could be repositioned as work progressed and reprogrammed each time its location changed.
Wild Goose Chase engineered a custom mobile mounting stand to house the laser system and allow safe, efficient relocation across the site. Beyond the equipment, Wild Goose Chase provided hands-on training for the grounds crew, equipping them with the knowledge to:
- Safely reposition the laser as construction phases progressed
- Reprogram coverage patterns based on the laser's new location
- Adjust timing and sweep variables to prevent bird habituation
Why Automated Lasers Work in This Environment
Automated laser deterrents are particularly well-suited for open, waterfront environments with persistent waterfowl pressure. Key advantages in this application included:
- Coverage and range: The laser beam travels over 1,000 feet and can sweep large open areas.
- Continuous operation: The system runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing consistent pressure rather than reactive, on-demand deterrence.
- Variable programming: Sweep patterns, speeds, and schedules are fully customizable, preventing birds from habituating to predictable movement, the failure point of most static deterrent solutions.
- Species-specific effectiveness: Canada geese and ducks are highly responsive to laser deterrence. Birds can perceive the full laser beam even in daylight, and their strong visual attunement to motion makes the system particularly effective against these species.
Outcome & Impact
Since installation in Q2 2025, the results have been clear and consistent. The airport has reported:
- A significant reduction in nuisance duck and goose activity throughout the 2026 season
- Zero nesting geese on the property, eliminating the construction delays and safety concerns that had plagued the project
- Successful staff adoption of the reprogramming process, with the grounds crew confidently managing system relocations independently
This engagement illustrates one of the most important principles in effective bird management: when previous deterrent attempts have failed, the solution is rarely more of the same. It requires an understanding of why birds are choosing a site, and a strategy designed around their actual behavior, not just their presence.